Ep. 57 - Andrew Denysov - Leading Through Adversity: The Resilient Spirit of Ukraine

When faced with the weight of a nation at war, where do hope and leadership find their footing? Join an intimate and powerful conversation with Andrew Denysov, CEO of TechVision, who sheds light on the enduring spirit of Ukrainians amidst the relentless challenges of conflict. Our discussion paints a poignant picture of families torn apart, the toll on children's education, and an economy fighting for breath. Yet, amidst the turmoil, Andrew reveals how his business contributes to the nation's resilience by earning vital revenue from international markets and how the church provides a beacon of support and hope to a community in need.

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Transcript

Lisa Peters: 0:05

Welcome to the Leader Impact Podcast. We are a community of leaders with a network in over 350 cities around the world, dedicated to optimizing our personal, professional, and spiritual lives to have impact. This show is where we have a chance to listen and engage with leaders who are living this out. We love talking with leaders, so if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions to make the show even better, please let us know. The best way to stay connected in Canada is through our newsletter at leaderimpact. ca or on social media at Leader Impact, and if you're listening from outside of Canada, check out our website at leaderimpact. com.

Lisa Peters: 0:36

I'm your host, Lisa Peters, and our guest today is Andrew Denysov. We first introduced you to Andrew, who is living in Lviv, Ukraine, in April of 2022 in podcast number eight, and we chatted about living out our purpose in uncertain times. We chatted again a year later in podcast number 31. Well, we are back. Ukraine has been at war for over two years and we wanted to check back with Andrew, the CEO of TechVision, still living in Lviv, Ukraine, on how he, his family, and his country is doing. Thank you for joining us, Andrew. It is great to see you.

Andrew Denysov: 1:10

Thank you, Lisa, for having me. It's a great joy to be here a third time. It becomes a very good tradition, I'd say.

Lisa Peters: 1:17

Okay, I follow you on social media. It's just a pleasure to see you doing, still doing so well and continuing through this. So I'm thankful that you continue to join us and sort of give us a little bit of an update. So that's what we're here for today is a little bit of an update, but also about leadership in your country. So, you know, let's just jump in and I'm wondering if you can provide us an update to what you're experiencing living and working in Ukraine.

Andrew Denysov: 1:48

Yeah, thank you, Lisa. You know I need to tell you that everything is still changing now over here. So it's been changing these two years and now this is third year. Oh my God, third year. So, you know, know, families change.

Andrew Denysov: 2:06

You know, some families are still separated for this long time because males cannot still leave the country and but, at the same time women which is like wives and kids left Ukraine and they live in different countries. They're not going to come back because of the kids and all this stuff, and this is sad because families are separated, right? So schools, for example, always interrupted because of the air raid sirens here. So my kids I have three kids two of them go to school and it's always a challenge. So, every single morning, when you wake up and you drop your kids to the school, you don't know what's going to happen today. So someone says that there's a high level of stress, but I say that we have to be super flexible and, just, you know, embrace this reality, because this is exactly what we cannot change.

Andrew Denysov: 3:09

As entrepreneur, economy, you know, economy is changing. So one word difficult, difficult, challenging. So you create an economy, you know, needs working businesses right now. Lots of businesses were destroyed, bankrupt because prices were increased and all this stuff is very difficult and especially the Ukrainian economy needs businesses, but especially like our company. Why? Because we generate revenue from abroad, and that's very important, and we pay taxes, we pay salaries. I mean we as businesses like that, my company as well, thank God for that.

Andrew Denysov: 4:06

So churches totally different angle of sermons, messages. We need to encourage people frequently because it's just like ups and downs every time. Yeah, so it's, I mean. So we don't cry every single Sunday. Of course, we try to stay positive, smile, you know, encourage each other, but every single church member has, you know, people who, like you know, were killed, or friends that they lost, friends, you know, or even like family members as well, or someone who's serving on a frontline, and every single moment you didn't know what to expect. So, yeah, so these are probably, you know, main spheres of Ukrainian, the lives of Ukrainians over here and the updates as well.

Lisa Peters: 5:01

Yeah, so you know, thanks for just updating a bit on your company and how. I mean it's the contracts abroad that I think are really keeping you alive and you're. You have both a presence in the US quite a big one and in the Ukraine and you employ people from Ukraine and this is why is to keep people, keep the industry. And your kids I just think they're resilient. I know they are. This has got to be hard. You talk about the stress, because as a parent, I'm feeling the stress. I want to believe our children are resilient.

Andrew Denysov: 5:41

And unfortunately they have to be resilient in the age of 8 years, 11 years and my youngest one just turned 11 months yesterday.

Lisa Peters: 5:55

And the other comment was just about your churches and the messages. Change because we've got to keep people just going. I remember when we first discussed with you, being in Lviv, there were millions of people coming through your city to get to Poland, to get out of the country, and your infrastructure was just, I mean, it was being tested, you know, and there were a lot of people coming to church to find something. Is it still like that? Is it are people still coming, or are they like? I can't do this anymore. I'm getting broken down.

Andrew Denysov: 6:33

So this is a very good question, Lisa, because so I need to say that it's not that like it's the pressure is not like it was first days, you know even weeks or months of the war. So unfortunately maybe I'll use that word that people got used to this new reality, so they embrace that probably this is better work. So that's not the pressure like it was. So that's why, and people have been really looking for God these first, I don't know year but since they got used to this reality they understood that how to live here. We are people. Sin works in us, sin attacks us probably every single moment, right, so it depends from time to time. But what I need to tell that, yes, they are still open. So, church, I mean churches have to be very active and proactive in and just listening to people to be, you know, yeah, just listen to people, stay with them, be with them, serve them, express empathy, you know.

Lisa Peters: 7:53

Thank you, andrew. The second question is a little about how do you feel the world is reacting to your war versus when it started, and I and my question comes. I mean, I'm living here in Canada and we hear so much of Hamas and Israel and I sometimes think are we still thinking about you daily? I mean I do because I know you, but how do you feel about how the world is reacting to the war?

Andrew Denysov: 8:22

And thank you for staying in touch every time with me Lisa. This is exactly this. You know what actually helps me understand that world doesn't forget about us. So, answering your question, which is a really, really good question, I need to tell you that.

Andrew Denysov: 8:37

And so recently I heard the phrase war fatigue. Just last Friday. War fatigue. And I heard that from my good friends that just came back from the States. They had some kind of, you know, courses for entrepreneurs in Stanford University, and we have, and that was that phrase was used with an angle that we have to overcome that phrase. You know that pattern in the war fatigue. Hey, listen, come on, everyone has their own problems, right? People cannot live with for a long time, with Ukrainian problem, you know, for years. So everyone has their own challenges. You know issues to solve, you know, et cetera. So, but to be honest, that our key partners, such as the United States of America, Canada, and the UK I mean, of course, Poland as well, and other countries, but these would actually be the main key partners they remain supportive. For example, on February 1st, I was in Washington DC, the United States of America.

Andrew Denysov: 9:56

I visited the National Prayer Breakfast, which we actually take here to Ukraine as well, which we actually take here to Ukraine as well, and we met with the US Senator, Kevin Cramer. So Kevin Cramer I just have a note and I want to read not to miss everyone so he is the senator of North Dakota who serves on the armed forces. I want to emphasize that banking committees and other committees. But why emphasize about armed services and banking committees? Because and we were together in his office and he said that unfortunately, we have a lot of experience in everlasting wars, or like long-term wars, or you know, etc. So and he, he said that we don't, we don't want to make it in Ukraine, we need to finish this as soon as possible and we should give Ukraine lethal weapon. We should, he said, give Ukraine lethal weapon, you know, before the war, but not just financial support. Financial support is important, but not just financial support. Financial support is important, but not just financial support as well. And I agree with him. And if it had happened, then we would probably have a different conversation with you now, Lisa.

Andrew Denysov: 11:19

So answer no or yes. The world still remember, knows and and reacts. And, of course, all these geopolitics you know, like with Hamas, other countries is dedicated to destabilize the information the situation and take focus off from Ukraine. So, but what we need to tell that I mean and I can say that I have our friends from Canada, United States, UK, other countries. I mean, as Ukrainian who lives here, who can actually leave the country, because I'm eligible but I won't. But I want to tell you that without you we won't win. We won't win so because the enemy is too big and they spent too much time, decades and decades. They spent decades and decades of preparation for this war. That's the problem. So, yeah, we need your support, our partners.

Lisa Peters: 12:28

Wow. Thank you, Andrew. So I want to switch a bit of the conversation to just being a leader in another country, because it is different around the world, and so I want to ask if you can describe your own leadership style and approach, and has it changed over the past three years?

Andrew Denysov: 13:04

I love this question because I think that God has been preparing me for this years before. I'm just reflecting right now, I mean, like these years in time, and I was like, wow, God, why did you allow that situation in my life 15 years ago? Why exactly that 10 years ago? Or that situation, that loss seven years ago, or that problem like 17 years ago? And it's like you know I'm puzzling this out right now and I understand that because he prepared me as a leader for now be here, maybe in my environment, in my city, in my country, for now.

Andrew Denysov: 13:46

So I think that the, true leadership, it's this is the leadership in every single situation. It doesn't matter if this is in the work zone or in war times or not, because of people, it's for people, it's all about people, it's all about their emotions, situations they live in and helping them. So my style didn't change, but what I can tell you for sure that my leadership became sharper, more productive, talking about my leadership and the influence became wider, and I don't want to sound arrogant, no, but I'm just. I have to analyze myself. You know how to be more productive as well.

Andrew Denysov: 14:41

And one of my mentors taught me years ago six, seven years ago and a very. He gave me actually a very interesting advice and actually his life mode of how he lives and he lived you know back then as well. It says every day is a gift, accept every day is a gift, and I like that phrase five years ago and I couldn't even imagine that I'll be living in the world at times and really now every day is a gift. So I wake up every morning and I have a clear plan what I have to do, because the main challenge now is uncertainty. So I can plan.

Andrew Denysov: 15:32

I love to plan, but I have to be super flexible and adjustable to the situation but still to keep my leadership and my focus. So, first of all, I still learn more about spending my time. So I start my day with God. It's not changed, it hasn't changed, it's still the same because I need him now more, because he's the only one source of the power, the wisdom, the knowledge you know, etc. And after that I give, I go to the day and I just give as a leader, I give support and courage because I took from God every morning. So this is like my, principles didn't change. Didn't change but the way how we I say me and my God we influence, we impact people right now. So we try to be the answer on needs and questions with people that we work and live in.

Lisa Peters: 16:37

Yeah, I thank you for acknowledging that the trials that you experience in our lives prepare us for today, for tomorrow, because when we are in them, it's not that easy. You know when you were experiencing something 10 years ago or seven years ago a bankruptcy, a death you know whatever you are so deep in it and you know what am I learning from this? And you know you keep living and you find the gift in the day and you go to God every morning. But it's tough, like it's a struggle, it's a trial.

Lisa Peters: 17:22

I want to acknowledge you. I just want to acknowledge saying that's really important, cause I think people think, oh, it's, you've had a good life. It's you know, we, we don't have trials, all of us have trials. It's maybe what we do with them, how we move forward.

Andrew Denysov: 17:35

And I want to add, Lisa, because you just touched a very good point, because we're talking about me who is in the middle of a war zone, I mean like not really a war zone, but in the country where there's the actual war. And our enemy became actually became really smarter. So they use different missiles that actually even reach out our city, which is like those missiles, you know, fly actually up to 3,000 kilometers, so to reach the, you know, energy infrastructure. But I want to say another one we're talking about me who is in a country where there's the actual war.

Andrew Denysov: 18:18

But I want to encourage, I want to use the chance and encourage people around the globe who are listening to this episode that, friends, you are in your battles as well and just you have to win. That's why God prepares you every single day, today, or he prepared you, like years ago for wins that all of us, each of you, has to make today, for him, for people that you live with, for your family, for your spouse, for kids, for businesses, because your businesses provide other families and you impact, you influence. So, yeah, just you have to fight your wars and your battles as well and just, yeah, our war is a little bit different with a crazy Russian enemy, but your battles are equally important as well, I need to tell you, because all of us, ultimately, in the end of the day, we stand against evil. That's the main enemy.

Lisa Peters: 19:36

Yeah, it takes a true leader to say that that we all have battles, versus just focusing on your own. So thank you. What are some of the unique challenges you face as a leader in your country?

Andrew Denysov: 19:53

Oh yeah, unique challenges. Oh, Lisa, I just realized. I mean like so, okay, very good, I'm that type of person that loves to plan his life for five, ten, even more years. Five, four, five, 10, even more years. I personally have described my life plan on the paper, which is actually into Google doc, but on the paper life plan, so I know how. So I'm 37 right now and I clearly know what I want to accomplish and you know until my last date. I don't know what's my expiration date and I don't want to know that. I want to just live every day as a gift, right, but I have a plan and I love to plan.

Andrew Denysov: 20:55

But today the main challenge is uncertainty. So for people like me, it's super difficult. What it was super difficult. So we had to adapt, we have to had to embrace that new reality. And now, you know, my flexibility is that, yes, so I have in my mind the long understanding of the long run.

Andrew Denysov: 21:19

But my like horizon of planning is like three to six months, not more, not more. For example, yes, I know how my 2024 going to be, so I plan my trip, business trip United States, meet with people in August, blah, blah, blah, etc. etc. By the way, Lisa last week I was in, I was accepted and invited to the Christian Economic Forum and they were gonna have a next event in Canada in July 14th 17th, and they provided me the invitation for the Canada visa, which I don't have yet. I'm sorry, I apologize that, but I really want to do that, so I'll do my best to come here. So, yeah, I make all these, you know, actions, plans, etc. But still not more than three to six months. So uncertainty is it's a super unique challenge because it wasn't before February 24th 2022, when the world broke out.

Lisa Peters: 22:27

Yeah, one of the women in my leadership said she's 100% committed to the plan and 0% attached. I'm committed to doing the plan, but you know what flexibility uncertain like just being. It's an uncertain world and you got to be flexible. So I'm 0% attached, but I'm committed. I thought that was really good.

Andrew Denysov: 22:48

Yes, and and you know, I see that in the Bible as well so we have our final destination we know the real big plan, but even Jesus showed us the flexibility, so he was very flexible and I saw that. Actually, I noticed that when the COVID hit in 2020. And in the business and in the business we're in the business if you want to be as a leader and as an entrepreneur or business person, if you want to be successful, you have to have flexibility as a just part of your DNA. That's it, period. It doesn't work to become successful.

Andrew Denysov: 23:38

So, so, and yes, my partner and I, we in the end of 2019, December, in that week between Christmas New Year we were sitting in our favorite coffee shop and we're planning our launching our new business, the TechV ision, our company right now. And we were like, yes, so inspired. And when, in three months, in March 2020, when the COVID hit, we said what worst could happen in our life? And literally no, literally no, that it was so cool time. I mean like no, I mean it took people lives, but I mean like, according to what's happening right now in our lives, and letting me know about the war in two years was different.

Lisa Peters: 24:33

Yeah, so when it is in such an uncertain time and you know five-year plan or whatever, how do you measure success as a leader? Like how are you actually measuring success when you are, well you're flexible.

Andrew Denysov: 24:51

So you're right, Lisa. We have to still measure success. We have to because what we cannot measure, we cannot improve. I mean that's important. So there are different metrics and there are more than I will probably outline right now, but I think for me, I just love to simplify processes, so I stick to top three.

Andrew Denysov: 25:27

As a leader, how to manage my success as a leader, or the success of my leadership is so leadership focused on people, and I divide my leadership on different teams. So my family is a team, so I'm a leader there. So my company is a team Church team. So different layers or spheres of my life, I divide them in teams because I work with different groups of people. So the metrics number one, I would say this is team performance. So a leader's success often correlates with their team's performance. And if my team is not successful, how can I call myself as a you know, successful leader? It doesn't work, it doesn't click right. So team performance, I would say and I can talk a lot about that, but I loved so, and leader had to say that so, oh, this is our win. But if we lose, hey, this is my lose, my loss, my loss.

Andrew Denysov: 26:43

The second one is I think I love the word innovation and growth. So leadership has to be connected with with some kind of innovative approaches and growth as well, and we have to be very innovative right now here. Very innovative because, Lisa, so much moving parts right now in our lives. We help, we volunteer, we invite and gather and meet with different delegations from around the world. So help country and, oh yeah, we have to work as well. Oh yeah, I have kids, by the way, so I have to be very innovative in my leadership as well. And it pushes to develop and find and develop new leaders as well. So, and where the teams like new ideas implemented, you know how to encourage our teams and people as well. It really requires different innovative approaches and and growth as well. So this is second. And third, I would say that personal development I cannot give if I don't receive. I mean, I have to receive first as well.

Andrew Denysov: 28:07

So, yeah, personal development is very important in different spheres and just for example, just recently I finished the course of one of my good friends from DC. He's my business coach, who offered me for free his time every other week and he really coaches me with the business. So we just finished the course of based on the book Traction. Everyone who's listening to me right now if you're building for your organization whether this is business, non-profit or church or others something others, I really, really encourage you to read and learn the book Traction by Gina Wickman.

Andrew Denysov: 28:59

This is from the secular world, but the principles are super applicable in every organization and I learned that because I want to grow my business. I want to create more value, create margin, create new workplaces for my company and country and city as well. And what's interesting is that at TechVision now we have people who work in different countries. In Ukraine, now in Poland, we have a development office in Africa i n Ghana and purely work with North America and clients are happy. So I have to learn as a leader, as a manager, as a CEO and business person, otherwise I won't be able to give. That's the point. So, yeah, three things team performance, innovative approach and growth and personal development.

Lisa Peters: 30:00

You are an inspiration, Andrew, just listening to you, yeah, and it's funny because my next question well, I was gonna end it there, but it comes to me that I always ask everybody about joy. You know what brings you the greatest joy and you answered that in our first podcast. But I continually think how do you find joy in the midst of trials? But listening to you, you know and I know you get up at six in the morning and you go to the Bible and you find joy. But for everyone, anyone who's listening, and you said earlier, we all have our trials. It may not be a war in Ukraine, but we have them. But how do you? You know, I don't know if you can talk about just finding joy in the midst of your trials?

Andrew Denysov: 30:50

I think the quick answer and I'll extend it that a little bit will be to have a purpose, to have a mission and to dive in more detail. And so the true, genuine and passionate mission and purpose comes only from God. That's it, period. Are you listening to me, dear listener? Yes, you have to find the joy. It's good to have a joy, but you have to find a mission and purpose in your life, otherwise you'll be just doing every day, that's it. But this gives you a higher purpose. And after that just just have the plan. But where? Where I take my joy? Two things. First of all, from God.

Andrew Denysov: 31:46

Every morning I wake up and I yeah, maybe it will sound old school, but I read the Bible and pray. That's it. I talk to my, the only one source of joy, which is Jesus. That's it. And there's just profound, steadfast and everlasting joy. That's it. And the second, of course, having a plan and having good friends, mentors and, like I said, just one of my mentors taught me that, man, if you accept every day as a gift it will be game-changing for you, and it is. So I have my life plan. It's called my file actually calls like life plan, and it sticks to my mission, to who I want to be, to my five values and the projects. We call that projects, but actually you know, like how I accomplish, how I live with these values in my business, in my life, personal life and in my church, in my nonprofit, helping my people, and even with physical, like my body, because it's so easy, Lisa, it's so easy to just give up and lose the health, mental health, physical health, spiritual health and stuff like that. So, yeah, and that's very important. And one more or less thing I think that we didn't discuss that on our previous episodes, but I want to tell you that between these two episodes that we recorded the last one as well. And that's one of the projects in my life plan that I have.

Andrew Denysov: 33:39

We launched the new project we call that we localize and produce the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast in Ukrainian. You heard about Pastor Craig, who is the senior pastor of Life Church, those who built the YouVersion Bible app that you and I use, and we are the part of development team. My company, but the big part of my leadership has been developing these past four years on that podcast and I just first week, first month I'm sorry of the war I've got an idea in the gym, underground gym, so old school, you know, with almost no light, but you know we have to create a good content. And I texted to my partner. I say, hey, this is the idea, so let's do that. And he said, let's do that. so we cover all these expenses.

Andrew Denysov: 34:40

We gathered the team of 20 people, tech guys, who never, you know, contributed into YouTube, but just consumed, you know. So we localized that in Ukrainian and we try to. Our mission is leverage technology and, you know, help thousands, maybe millions of Ukrainian speaking leaders in Ukraine and around the globe. This is an example of what actually brings me joy to give, create projects and just give. We don't earn any single penny on that project and we won't do that because we pay for all of that. But otherwise, why we build businesses, why we live here, why we are calling us leaders, if we don't lead and grow and develop new leaders and grow people, you know, and all this? So, yeah, that's, that's what actually brings me joy.

Lisa Peters: 35:42

Yeah and I I know you did tell us in the last podcast you sort of dropped it a little bit about what you were doing with YouV ersion and to anyone listening YouV ersion is free, it is a free app. You can find Craig Groeschel . I love his devotions, like just they're like. The last one we did was six steps, six best steps to your best leadership. Like it was two best there.

Lisa Peters: 36:04

It was just fantastic and it's free but, and I want to acknowledge that this whole time I'm sure there has been the trials and it's been. Why are you know... I'm sure you've had that on why are we like? Why are we not? Why are we doing this? But you know, something's trying to stop you. Right, there's always those forces that are coming at you to say this isn't working, but you keep going because it has a bigger purpose.

Andrew Denysov: 36:44

Exactly, exactly, and you know as like I have a s mall like period of time in my past when I used to play soccer. the kind of example from soccer, but it can be from any other sports. If you want to win the tournament, which consists of, let's say, many different games, even if you lose one game, but you have to have a purpose to win the tournament.

Andrew Denysov: 37:26

So just every game is a lost game and no one is perfect, but just every day is a gift, as well as last day. So that's and we have to just sometimes you know, maybe it will sound like artificially look for joy. No, no, no, no, no, no. It's just consistently, every day, just with the purpose to find the joy, to find the energy. And will we have down times? Yes., will we have difficult problems? Yes, maybe I sound positive. I smile with you because you smile. You have a beautiful smile, Lisa. So it's a joy to have this recording third time with you. So that's where I take my joy as well. But we have many sources of joy. my kids, my beautiful wife, my friends, my friends in Canada, like what we are doing right now. So we have many sources of joy, but we just have to see them and count on them. So just find them, that's it.

Lisa Peters: 38:35

Yeah, and I just feel like listening to you. h, I I feel so much. I show up here because I have so much to learn from guests like you. So, Andrew, just thank you for sharing. I know you were a busy guy. We had a hard time getting this day together and it's very early for me later for you. You know our time changed. ut thank you for just taking the time for this today.

Andrew Denysov: 39:01

But we made it yeah.

Lisa Peters: 39:03

If anyone wants to reach out with you or find you anyway, what is the best way?

Andrew Denysov: 39:08

LinkedIn is the best.

Lisa Peters: 39:10

We love LinkedIn. It's global.

Andrew Denysov: 39:12

Yeah, that's cool. I love this.

Lisa Peters: 39:15

All right, thank you, Andrew, and just, we will see you again soon.

Andrew Denysov: 39:19

Yep soon, I hope, with way way better news.

Lisa Peters: 39:23

Awesome. All right, well, that is Andrew Denysov. We were talking from Lviv, Ukraine. All right, well, if you're part of Leader Impact, you can always discuss or share this podcast with your group. And if you're not yet part of Leader Impact and would like to find out more and grow your leadership, find our podcast page on our website at leaderimpact. ca and check out our free leadership assessment. You'll also find our webpage chapter one of Braden Douglas' book Becoming a Leader of Impact. You can also check out groups available in Canada at leaderimpact. ca or, if you're listening from anywhere else in the world, check out leaderimpact. com or get in touch with us by email info at leaderimpact. ca and we will connect you. And if you like this podcast, please leave us a comment, give us a rating or review. This will help other global leaders find our podcast. Thank you for engaging with us and remember impact starts with you.